Pope Leo XIV is offering prayers and spiritual support to the people of Colombia as the nation confronts the devastating aftermath of a powerful earthquake that has killed at least 181 people and injured thousands.
The magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, August 10, shaking Cali, Quibdó, Pereira and numerous surrounding communities. According to The Associated Press, Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella reported Tuesday that the death toll had reached 181, while 2,595 people had been injured. Around 1,600 buildings were reported damaged or collapsed.
Search-and-rescue operations continued Tuesday as emergency workers, soldiers, volunteers and families searched damaged buildings for survivors.
The disaster has been especially challenging in Chocó, the region surrounding the earthquake’s epicenter. According to The Associated Press, much of Chocó can only be reached by boat, through jungle terrain or by airplane, complicating efforts to determine the full extent of the destruction.
Homes have been reduced to rubble in some communities, while continuing aftershocks have frightened residents and forced some to sleep outdoors.
Amid the unfolding tragedy, Pope Leo XIV expressed his sorrow and closeness to those suffering in Colombia.
According to Vatican News, the Holy Father conveyed his condolences in a telegram signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and addressed to Archbishop Francisco Javier Múnera Correa of Cartagena, president of the Colombian Bishops’ Conference.
Pope Leo offered prayers “for the eternal rest of those who died” and for the recovery of those affected by the earthquake, according to Vatican News.
The Pope also extended his heartfelt condolences to families who “in this hour of profound sorrow, mourn the loss of their loved ones.”
His message included special recognition of those carrying out rescue operations and providing assistance to survivors. According to Vatican News, Pope Leo expressed gratitude to those working “with generous dedication” to search for victims and provide relief to communities affected by the disaster.
Those efforts are continuing across Colombia as the scale of the destruction becomes clearer.
According to The Associated Press, initial assessments cited by the United Nations indicated that 12 Colombian departments were affected. Thousands of homes were damaged and hundreds destroyed, while health facilities, schools, roads and airports also sustained damage.
International assistance is also beginning to mobilize. The Associated Press reported that the World Food Program had approximately 4,500 metric tons of food positioned close enough to affected areas to support a rapid response.
For some of Colombia’s hardest-hit communities, however, the full magnitude of the disaster may not be known immediately. Remote settlements in Chocó can be extremely difficult to access, and one local religious and environmental leader told The Associated Press that it could take weeks to understand the complete extent of the devastation.
As rescuers continue searching through the rubble and families mourn those who have died, Pope Leo entrusted Colombia to God and invoked the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
According to Vatican News, the Pope prayed that the Lord would “pour out upon the beloved Colombian people the gifts of spiritual strength and Christian hope.”
He concluded his message by imparting his Apostolic Blessing upon the Colombian people as they face the difficult days of mourning, rescue and recovery ahead.
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